A PRIEST who has led the remembrance of the county’s fallen heroes for more than 10 years has stepped down.

Rev Canon Roland Meredith conducted his final Turning the Pages ceremony at Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday [sept5].

The commemorative event, which takes place every two months, sees the names of 20 soldiers from the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars, and the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who fought and died in both world wars, read out.

The 83-year-old, who served with the Queen’s Own Royal East Kent, said: “It has been great fun and I am sad to give it up but you have to stop at some point.

“I have made many friends through it and I have enjoyed meeting the families who come along to remember their relatives.

“I shall still drop into the ceremonies now and again as a civilian though.”

The grandfather-of-six from Witney is one of many honorary canons at the church and took on the role due to his military background.

Before 2005, the ceremony had been taken on a rota system by various honorary canons.

Attendance of the bi-monthly reading has dramatically improved over the past 10 years with more than 30 men from both regiments regularly turning up.

Geoff Day, who served with the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry in Cyprus from 1956 to 1957, is a regular at the ceremonies.

The 80-year-old from Kidlington said: “Roland has been excellent and he has put in so much hard work.”

Rev Canon Brian Shenton will take over and his first duty will be a special Armistice ceremony on November 11.

At Saturday’s Turning the Pages, Major Jeremy Burnan read out the names of ten fallen soldiers from the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars while Colonel David King OBE did the honours for the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry.

Major Burnan, Commanding Officer of the 142 Vehicle Squadron of the Royal Logistic Corps, said: “It’s most important that we remember the sacrifices of these soldiers who died in both wars by reading out their names."

A page from the Book of Remembrance was turned in its glass case and prayers for regiments were read out by Rev Canon Meredith for the final time.

REMEMBERED

Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

  • First World War 1914-18

Arthur William Bailey
Thomas John Dean
George Long
Henry Partridge
James William Stables

  • Second World War 1939-45

Stanley Frederick Chapman
Edwin Heath
John James Martin
Thomas Roberts
John Alfred Turner